In business school we teach students about game theory, which entails understanding payoff structures and making rational decisions in situations of conflict. But in the real world, all too often personalities and emotions becloud objective thinking. People sometimes want vengeance, for example. They want to exact retribution from those people or organizations that have wronged […]

People who wish they had more power in their organizations — power to bring their ideas to fruition, power to change policies that make no sense — often try to find the one “big move” that will land them in a position of authority. That’s a long shot, and, in any event, it misses the […]

HBR’s fictionalized case studies present dilemmas faced by leaders in real companies and offer solutions from experts. This one is based on research by Jeffrey Pfeffer. Adam Baker had been bothered all day by the blunt message his boss and mentor, Merwyn Straus, had delivered to him on the phone that morning: Adam was not […]

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